December 16th

It's 16th, and the whole house smells like Christmas! I was almost giving up on these...

...but then, quite suddenly, they both started to open and the scent is divine...

My second favorite Christmas-scent after hyacints is gingerbread...

...freshly baked, straight from the oven...yummm... And have you tried the best ever trick? Just warm your oven, put a baking tray in with some gingerbread-seasoning and soon the whole house smells heavenly. This is a fantastic if you have surprise-guests coming and nothing self-baked to offer! Just "bake" some seasoning and serve your guest some store-made cookies, no one will know the difference... 

Picture source: www.fragrantica.com

My third favorite Christmas-smell is "Glow" perfume (Jennifer Lopez). It has nothing Christmassy in it, but I bought my first bottle around 2002 in Christmas-time. We, me and my Sis, went shopping and decided to get something for ourselves for Christmas. We both fell in love with this scent, and now I am on my third or so bottle! I use this all year round, but when ever I put it on, it makes me think Christmas. I just love it, and will get an another bottle soon.

What are your favorite Christmas scents?

***

Lovely 3rd Advent!

Yours,

Mia

P.S A little giveaway here until 19th! Welcome!

December 15th

It's 15th already, can you believe it? It's only one week to go, and hopefully next week will not be too busy for all of you, and most of the shopping/cardmaking/planning is already done, and you can just enjoy the Holiday Spirit. It's also past the "guarantee-to-arrive-for-Christmas" shipping dates from Finland to US, Canada, Japan and Europe, so my shop is slowly quieting down, and a few Christmas items were left there un-sold. I thought even they will not arrive for this Christmas, I would like to give something out this year too so here we go:

1. The red flowered pouch

2. Happy snowman-stocking

3. Set of little birdies

And all you need to do is to leave a comment on this (today 15th of Decemeber) post, and make sure you leave your name or nickname or anything so you can be reconized on Wed 19th when I pick up the 3 winners! I will ship the things anywhere you live, so you can all participate no matter how far or close. You can wish your favorite thing (1, 2 or 3) but please notice that I will randomly pick the winners so maybe the wishes and winners get together or maybe not, but hopefully all the items will find a good home (if not at yours, maybe at friends?), and hey: the winners will have first Christmas presents ready for 2013 already, how great is that?! Good luck, everyone!

Wonderful  December 15th!

Yours,

Mia

December 14th

This morning I was surprised by a biiiig parcel, and I think you'll never guess what was in it...

 ...if you look very closely, you might think you know...

 ... but I'm sure you didn't expect this:

A NINJA!

***

After a fantastic, busy, funny, energetic, Christmas-dreams-filled aunting-day I am now off to sofa with a newest MollieMakes, and I wish you a lovely December 14th and a wonderful weekend too!

Yours,

Mia

December 13th

I am not that big fan of cleaning, yet I love the house when it's all shiny and sorted. Around the Christmas there are sometimes too high expectations (clean and sort all the cupboards and closets, paint the ceilings, built a new kitchen table-sort) and when the big day hits, you end up being exhausted. I wish to find some sort of balance to this (read: do little each day), and try to remember of the these wise words: clean the closets for Holidays if you're going to spend them in there... That all said  here's my washing line today:

...nice and pretty and colorful, and I definitely have used a washing machine for these, today's cleaning done, right?

... and just to share some brightness and colors: a few shot on right side up too... These have still time to find their way into Santa's sack!

Happy December 13th!

Yours,

Mia

P.S. All the cards done and shipped on a lower rate today, yippee! Pictures of this year's style a bit later, when Mr. Postman have delivered them all.

December 12th

Tomorrow, December 13th, is the last day here in Finland to post our Christmas cards on a special (read: lower) rate, and millions of cards will be tucked into the mailboxes. Quite literally too, last year we Finns sent out some 40.000.000 cards (you got the zeros right, that's forty million), and that was actually down ten million from a previous year (hello text message-greetings!). This all said I am still processing my cards *ahem* but some around here have been ready for a while already...

All you need is enough pretty stuff...

...a magnifying glass (!) to inspect it all...

..."Yeah, auntie, these diamonds will do"...

...glue, glue and some more clue and voila:

"This is a tree and I will send it to Granma"

...with  LOVE!

***

Happy December 12th!

Yours,

Mia

December 11th

Once upon a time there was a need for one more Christmas-stocking, and it was for a little princess this time. The court seamstress rummaged through her stash, and found a little (thrifted) mohair-wool sweater in just right shades. Clipety-clip went the scissors...

...and then it was time to choose the decoration. The seamstress knew, that the little princess liked all things bling, and everything was chosen accordingly...

And then the seamstress sew and sew...

...added a matching lining and finally...

The Royal Stocking was all finished! It has the princesses initial* on the other side and some family heirloom-ish stars on the other. Now the seamstress is off to sew an another stocking to the same family, and this time it'll be with little less pink&sparkle - the brother of the princess is not that prince-y after all.

Happy December 11th!

Yours,

Mia

* Vivienne fear no - this is not for you!

December 10th

The wreaths are up both inside and out, and suddenly all is calm, all is bright...

Lovely December 10th!

Yours,
Mia

December 9th

I am having little technical difficulties with the camera I had on me yesterday, so I need to postpone the Christmas-shopping trip pictures, and I would love to show you my latest addition(s) to my snowman collection instead! It's ever so convenient as these were purchased yesterday...

I know that many think pink&green are not the most Christmassy colors but take a closer look please!  I received that wonderful card from dear, dear Jane, and it's so me! You can see and get one of your own her fabulous cards (which I start to have a collection, love them so) here...There are a few snowmen left (not for long I'm sure!) and other beautiful cards too, and look at the fantastic bagcharms she makes, wow!

And that little snowman-cardstand I purchased yesterday, and it's perfect with the card. I am in love!

I also purchase a little snowman ornament. Well little is not exactly the word that comes to mind once it's assembled...

But it's the cutest ever! And it makes me smile every time I walk past it as it twirls over the radiator.

Wonderful 2nd Advent!

Yours,

Mia